Canucks C Sundin to make season debut Wednesday

Jan 7, 2009 - 10:44 PM EDMONTON, Alberta (Ticker) -- Center Mats Sundin, recently acquired by the Vancouver Canucks, finally is ready to make his longest-anticipated season debut.

Following the Canucks' optional skate, the 37-year-old Sundin announced that he will play in Wednesday night's game at Edmonton.

Sundin practiced Wednesday morning for the second straight day without experiencing any pain.

"I think I am ready and I am anxious to play, of course," he said. "I'm looking forward to getting back playing the game but, at the same time, I want to make sure I'm ready physically so I can stay in the lineup."

Predictably, Sundin's debut with the Canucks has attracted a great deal of attention in a hockey-mad country. According to the Vancouver Sun, the Oilers have issued 100 media credentials for the game.

When Sundin takes the ice, it officially will end a saga that dragged on for nearly six months.

After 13 seasons in Toronto, the Swede became a free agent and spent the offseason waffling about his future before finally signing with the Canucks on December 18.

Sundin chose Vancouver - which originally offered him a $20 million contract on July 1 - over the New York Rangers.

"Of course, it's going to be a strange feeling," said Sundin, who has not played in a game in nearly nine months. "I think every player who has been traded or moved around realizes it's part of our game. It's a part of the business that sometimes is not that much fun but I'm really happy to be a part of the Vancouver Canucks."

A nine-time All-Star, Sundin's tenure in Toronto ended on a sour note when the Maple Leafs' longtime captain declined to waive his no-trade clause last season.He was criticized for blocking a possible trade that could have helped the Maple Leafs build for the future.

The two-time Olympian recorded a club-high 32 goals and 78 points in 2007-08 en route to becoming Toronto's all-time leading scorer.